Clamping device with planar contact

Abstract

Clamping device having a receiving opening which is arranged concentrically to a workpiece spindle axis, wherein the clamping device is designed for clamping a gear workpiece comprising a head region and a shaft, the clamping device comprises an annular planar contact surface, which is arranged concentrically to the workpiece spindle axis, is located in a workpiece-side end region of the clamping device, and which extends essentially perpendicular to the workpiece spindle axis, wherein at least one circumferential groove is provided in the workpiece-side end region, which groove extends from an outer surface of the clamping device radially in the direction of the workpiece spindle axis and which provides the clamping device with elasticity in the region of the planar contact surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Clamping device comprising:
 a body including a central receiving opening configured to be concentrically located with a workpiece spindle axis; and 
 an annular planar contact surface, which
 is configured to be concentrically located with the workpiece spindle axis, 
 is located in a workpiece-side end region of the clamping device, and 
 which extends at least substantially perpendicular to the workpiece spindle axis; 
 
 wherein said clamping device is configured to clamp a gear workpiece comprising a head region and a shaft or a shank; 
 wherein the workpiece-side end region includes at least one circumferential groove therein, said at least one groove at least one of
 extends from an outer surface of the clamping device radially toward the workpiece spindle axis or 
 extends radially outwardly from an inner surface of the clamping device relative to the workpiece spindle axis; and 
 
 wherein said at least one groove provides the clamping device with elasticity in a region of the planar contact surface. 
 
     
     
       2. Clamping device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of
 the body defines the outer surface in the workpiece-side end region, or 
 the body defines the inner surface in the workpiece-side end region. 
 
     
     
       3. Clamping device according to  claim 2 , wherein the body defines a nose piece defining said central receiving opening, wherein the nose piece defines at least one of
 the outer surface or 
 the inner surface. 
 
     
     
       4. Clamping device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a gear workpiece defining a shaft and a head region defining a heel defining a rear heel surface, and configured to be at least substantially parallel to a plane extending at least substantially perpendicular to the workpiece spindle axis when the shaft of the gear workpiece is inserted into the central receiving opening. 
     
     
       5. Clamping device according to  claim 4 , further comprising means for applying an axial tensile force on the gear workpiece at least substantially parallel to the workpiece spindle axis, wherein the means is configured to apply said force to the shaft by frictional connection therebetween to pull the gear workpiece together with the shaft into the central receiving opening. 
     
     
       6. Clamping device according to  claim 4 , wherein said gear workpiece is clamped in a clamped state by frictional connection therebetween on the shaft and by a positive connection between the annular planar contact surface and the rear heel surface of the heel, wherein the at least one circumferential groove changes shape during clamping and thereby generates a restoring force in the clamping device. 
     
     
       7. Clamping device according to  claim 6 , wherein said restoring force acts in the clamped state at least substantially in an axial direction on the rear heel surface of the heel. 
     
     
       8. Clamping device according to  4 , configured to generate a positive connection and a frictional connection between the rear heel surface of the heel and the annular planar contact surface that are maintained during a temperature-related expansion of the gear workpiece. 
     
     
       9. Clamping device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a gear workpiece defining a shaft and a head region defining a heel defining a rear heel surface, and configured to be at least substantially parallel to a plane extending at least substantially perpendicular to the workpiece spindle axis when the shaft of the gear workpiece is inserted into the central receiving opening. 
     
     
       10. Clamping device according to  claim 3 , further comprising a gear workpiece defining a shaft and a head region defining a heel defining a rear heel surface, and configured to be at least substantially parallel to a plane extending at least substantially perpendicular to the workpiece spindle axis when the shaft of the gear workpiece is inserted into the central receiving opening. 
     
     
       11. Clamping device according to  claim 5 , wherein said gear workpiece is clamped in a clamped state by frictional connection therebetween on the shaft and by a positive connection between the annular planar contact surface and the rear heel surface of the heel, wherein the at least one circumferential groove changes its shape during clamping and thereby generates a restoring force in the clamping device. 
     
     
       12. Clamping device according to  5 , configured to generate a positive connection and a frictional connection between the rear heel surface of the heel and the annular planar contact surface that are maintained during a temperature-related expansion of the gear workpiece.